Jan. 3, 2004

Final Stats

Cullowhee, N.C. - Kevin Martin led five Catamounts in double figures as Western Carolina defeated North Greenville, 106-61, Saturday night at the Ramsey Activity Center. The Catamounts improve to 7-4 on the year and 99-3 all-time when scoring at least 100 points in a game, while the Crusaders fall to 4-7.

Martin scored 26 points in just 17 minutes of play, making 9-of-11 shots from the field, including 4-of-6 from 3-point range, and sank all four of his free throw attempts. David Berghoefer registered his third double-double of the season, scoring 18 points and pulling down 15 rebounds, both just one off his career highs in the categories. Alex Osipovitch added 18, Kyle Greathouse scored 10 and Terrence Woodyard contributed 15 points off the bench.

North Greenville's Trevor Boggs scored the first basket of the game, giving the Crusaders a 3-0 lead. Martin answered with a trey of his own to tie the contest. Beau Trauger made it a 5-3 game after sinking a pair of free throws, only to have Osipovitch once again tie the game with a jumper in the lane. The Crusaders regained control with a layup by Chris Sabb. The lead was short lived as Greathouse drained a 3-pointer at the 16 minute mark to give WCU a one-point (8-7) lead, one the Catamounts would not relinquish.

Western's pressure defense caused 16 first-half North Greenville turnovers. The Catamount defense created easy baskets for their offense, going on runs of 13-2 and 19-5 to take a 39-14 lead with 6:48 left in the first half. Western would go on to take a 31-point lead at the break (56-25). The Cats handed out 18 assists on their 20 made field goals and committed just five turnovers.

The second half started the same as the first as North Greenville scored first. Boggs sank two free throws to cut the Crusader deficit to 29. Berghoefer answered with a jumper and the Cats would lead keep at least a 31-point lead the remainder of the game.

For the game, the Catamounts made 62.3 percent of their shots from the field, getting 31 assists on their 38 made baskets. Martin, Berghoefer and Jared Outing each had four steals as WCU just missed a Ramsey Center record with 19 steals. North Greenville did connect on 40 percent of its shots, including 35.3 from 3-point range, but committed 31 turnovers with just nine assists.

Greathouse just missed his first career double-double. In addition to his 10 points, the Lancaster, Ohio, native handed out nine assists with zero turnovers in 23 minutes. Fellow point guard, James Johnson, also had a solid game with six assists and zero turnovers in 17 minutes.

The Crusaders, who led WCU at halftime last season and kept the game close to the end last season, were led by Brett Williams, who scored 10 points off the bench. Rob Wilton added nine and Trauger scored eight.

Western Carolina, who is 1-0 in league play, will resume Southern Conference action on Wednesday, Jan. 7, when the Cats host the College of Charleston. Tip-off at the RAC is set for 7 pm.